A 1920s Neoclassical Palazzo in L.A.’s Historic Fremont Place Lists for $7.5 Million
At the southern terminus of Rossmore Avenue at Wilshire Boulevard, unceremoniously sandwiched between a couple of unremarkable low-rise office buildings stand two huge stone towers embellished with flamboyant Corinthian pilasters that mark the entrance to L.A.’s first gated community. There were originally four gated entrances to Fremont Place, each with an identical set of entry towers designed by architect J. Martyn Haenke; today, all four gates remain in place, though only one provides secured entry to the sedate enclave.
Originally planned to have just 48 homes, 73 were eventually built, and the Neoclassical palazzo at 62 Fremont Place, designed by architect Clarence J. Smale, completed in 1923 and since home to several notable Angelenos, has now come on the market for $7.45 million.
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According to the Historic Los Angeles Blog, by the late 1920s, the house had been acquired by gold and silver mine developer Paul “Paddy” Woods and his wife Lillian, whose fortunes changed when the stock market crashed in 1929. The home was later owned by undertaker Joseph O’Connor, whose nearby funeral home, Cunningham & O’Connor, regularly handled the deceased bodies of Hollywood heavy hitters like Carmen Miranda, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy, Bing Crosby, and John Wayne.
And in the early 1970s, the owners leased the house to the Committee for the Future, an outfit founded by the late toy heiress and futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard, who sought “positive options for the future of humanity.” Since then, there have been a handful of well-to-do if less illustrious owners, and records show the property last changed hands in 2006 for $3.975 million.
Today, the slightly more than 6,400-square-foot home’s original character includes dark-stained oak floors, arched windows and French doors, and glass doorknobs, while modern updates include integrated heating and cooling, luxurious bathrooms, and in-ceiling speakers. There are four bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus a couple of powder rooms.
Highlights include a spacious living room with a fireplace, a separate dining room, and a cozy fireside library. Centered around a large island, the kitchen is roomy and renovated with a built-in espresso maker and wine fridge, plus an adjoining breakfast room. The nearby family room holds a third fireplace, and a trio of arched French doors spills onto a large, sun-soaked terrace embellished with a stone balustrade.
There’s another terrace that’s covered, along with a sunken entertainment space lined with concrete banquettes and a detached two-car garage. What there is not is a swimming pool; however, the .59-acre parcel is certainly large enough to accommodate one.
F. Ron Smith and David Berg of Smith & Berg Property Group, Compass hold the listing.
Click here for more photos of the Fremont Place home.
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